All eyes were glued to the dusky blue sky, which was enveloped in pink, pastel and orange rays emanating from the sun setting in the west. And soon a semi-circular, thin white moon emerged, heralding the beginning of Eid.

Sara shot one glance out of her window and the sight of the new moon filled her with joy and thrill. “Tomorrow morning I’m going to look the best among all,” she promised herself, with pride and arrogance etched on every line of her face.

The bright warm sun, the sound of chirping birds and text messages and calls, and greeting s of ‘Eid Mubarak’ marked the beginning of her new day. After some good two hours, Sara stood in front of the mirror, examining her reflection like a detective scrutinising a suspected object. Sara had always believed in perfection and, more importantly, in looking perfect. Nothing mattered to her as much as looking good. In the quest of beauty and looks, she had become almost indifferent to the thousands of rupees she would recklessly spend in buying new dresses, shoes, accessories and everything that adorned her, but only outwardly. Sara glanced at herself for the fifth time in the mirror and finally declared, “Perfect!”

She wore a long sapphire-coloured dress which was embellished with white pearls and frills, and elegantly fell till her feet. Her dark hair was swept to one side in soft curls, with white lavender tucked at the side of her ear. In addition, she wore an expensive sapphire coloured necklace around her neck with matching long earrings and dozens of bracelets on her wrist.

Sara then accompanied the rest of her family to visit her grandmother, which was the first thing they always did on Eid. She sat at the back seat of the car, listening to her favourite songs on the IPod. As the car came to a halt at the signal, she looked out of the window and a sight crossed her eyes which left her feeling both awe and pity. A girl, probably around seven years, sat at the corner of the footpath, intently looking at all the passer-by and cars. The little girl wore a faded pink frock which was stitched with patches at various places. Her brown unkempt hair fell till her shoulders. She wore no expensive jewels or pearls but small metallic earrings. The little girl looked as innocent and charming as an angel. Though the unfortunate girl was devoid of any designer clothes, fashionable accessories or gold bracelets, simplicity made her apear more beautifully than any jewel ever could.

Sara’s eyes then fell her own image on the side mirror and she silently studied her own reflection for a brief moment. It was then that the realisation hit her like a blow, filling her with anger and regret that she had only focused on seeking the help of accessories, makeup and the latest fashion to overdress, thinking it made her beautiful. She had lost all traces of simplicity and her inner beauty somewhere.

Instantly, she pulled away the flower from her hair, straightened her hair up with her fingers, took off her heavy necklace and bracelets, leaving just a single decent bracelet on her wrist, and keeping these things in her purse.

“Is everything okay Sara?” her mother asked, looking anxiously at her daughter who was unfastening all her favourite accessories.

“How do I look mom?” Sara asked.

“Perfect!” her mom replied with delight.

The veil of materialism and fashion was finally raised from her eyes and now she was able to see the world in an altogether different, simpler perspective. She felt elated, free and at ease.